I guess I just found him easy to forget with the other three big names and with Lakers fans always hating on him even though he won them a championship.

Sounds like A Rod. I wasn't fully sure where he went either when I went on a 2 month NBA hiatus. The fact that people thought he would be pissed after the almost trade makes you feel he was gone. Add to that getting Howard and its easy to have thought he was on his way out.

I also disagree that Harden is not worth what he's asking. Only LeBron, Durant, and Paul had a better win share per 48 minute rate than Harden last season (http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../NBA_2012.html) While that will likely decline with more playing time and playing more of a primary role rather than a tertiary one, he's a great player. If OKC isn't going to give him the money, somebody else will and they'll reap the benefits of his production.

Sounds like A Rod. I wasn't fully sure where he went either when I went on a 2 month NBA hiatus. The fact that people thought he would be pissed after the almost trade makes you feel he was gone. Add to that getting Howard and its easy to have thought he was on his way out.

I haven't heard Gasol mentioned or read about him in regard to the Lakers at all this month. It's been all Dwight, Nash, and of course Kobe.

I also disagree that Harden is not worth what he's asking. Only LeBron, Durant, and Paul had a better win share per 48 minute rate than Harden last season (http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../NBA_2012.html) While that will likely decline with more playing time and playing more of a primary role rather than a tertiary one, he's a great player. If OKC isn't going to give him the money, somebody else will and they'll reap the benefits of his production.

he's not a #1...his stats don't mean squat to me in the absence of durant and westbrook...they bear the responsibility for that team night in and night out..